Registration is now open for the 2018 Healthy Communities Conference "Creating Partnerships for Well-Being". The conference will bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to share in learning about Indigenous health equity. The conference will take place on the evening of Tuesday, May 8 at the Grey Bruce Health Unit and all-day Wednesday, May 9 at the Bayshore Community Centre.

The program was designed specifically to meet the following conference objectives:

• To unpack the root causes of Indigenous health inequities.

• To showcase the strength and resilience of youth and their communities.

• To engage in a reflective learning journey on what wellbeing for Grey and Bruce could look like.

• To come together to build respectful relationships and partnerships.

Keynote speakers include:

· Victoria Grant is from the Loon Clan, Teme-Augama Anishnabai and member of Temagami First Nation. As owner of Moving Red Canoe, her work is on education and facilitation with a focus on Reconciliation

· Randall Kahgee served four terms as Chief of Saugeen First Nation and is now Senior Counsel with Pape Salter Teillet LLP, specializing in Indigenous rights law, with an emphasis on community-based processes and government- to-government negotiations

· Dr. Suzanne Stewart of the Yellowknife Dene First Nation is a registered psychologist and Director of the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health

· Cat Criger is an Indigenous Elder, Traditional Teacher and Mentor from the First Nations People. Cat is Cayuga (Guyohkohnyoh), Haudenosaunee or People of the Longhouse, Turtle Clan and Traditional Elder for University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus.

Additional conference speakers and workshop leaders bring a range of expertise including positive youth development, Aboriginal business, trauma-informed practice, spiritual guidance, art, language, dance, traditional healing and food.

source: media release, Grey Bruce Health Unit